There are a whole bunch of great musicians and poets performing around the area, all the time. Here's a few pieces by acts that will be making local appearances who might fly under the radar, but are defintiely worth giving a whirl.

•“Does My Ring Burn Your Finger,” by Red Molly: You kind of have to define terms when you're talking breeds of Americana, but Red Molly is about as classic as it gets. The all-female folk-trio from New Jersey — which will be performing Nov. 18 for the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse at the First Universalist Society Meetinghouse in Franklin — combines a down-home acoustic roots sound with a sultry feel, especially with scorchingly delivered lines such as: “I could never believe that your kisses were lying/ was there something from the past/buried in a shallow grave/ did you think it was too far gone to save?”

•“Moon Song,” by Sadie Slo Gin: This is just a lovely little song, with Sarah Hendricks' delicate vocals shining like, well, the moon. This band, which is performing Nov. 17 at Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner, has an intricate sound … nothing is wasted, and everything fits together neatly like clockwork. Which sounds a little cold, when you phrase it that way, but Hendricks' voice gives the whole thing a warmth enough to thaw the frost.

•“Crochet,” by Eric Devenney: Eric Devenney, who performs for the Poets' Asylum Nov. 18 in the WCUW Frontroom, came to light with the Worcester Youth Slam, and this poem is a good reason why. Pondering on issues of masculinity. “I'm a man,” he says, explaining why loving crochet doesn't make him any less masculine, “because I know my hands might not always be clean, but they'll always be faithful.” Devenney's work is a nice mixture of youthful brashness and surprising sensitivity, and he's an up-and-coming voice that's definitely worth paying attention to.

•“Blow 'Em Away,” by Demons Alley: Time to shake it up with some old-school rock? Demons Alley — which performs Nov. 16 at the Lucky Dog Music Hall, plays down-and-dirty sleaze rock with an edge of danger and a healthy dose of panache. This is a bar-brawl of a song, fast and lascivious, with a gritty bass line that can have you grooving. All in all, a perfect way to shake out the blues after a long week.